Mechanical crawl stroke swimming instructor



July 17, 1934. c. w. KABISIUS MECHANICAL CRAWL STROKE SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR Original Filed Feb. 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l "III/IIIIIIIIM July 17, 1934. c w 5 u5 1,966,448

MECHANICAL CRANL STROKE SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR Original Filed Feb. 12, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 1934. c. w. KABISIUS MECHANICAL CRAWL STROKE SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 12

Patented July 17, 1934 PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL CRAWL STROKE SWHHMING INSTRUCTOR Charles W. Kabisius, Santa Monica, Calif. Original application February 12, 1927, Serial Divided and this application January 14, 1928, Serial No. 246,676. Renewed January 31, 1933 20 Claims. (01. 272-71) raised above the surface of the water and with a natural bend at the elbow. This movement causes the swimmers body to rock slightly on its longitudinal axis. The swimmers head is oscillated to one side or the other to breathe. The

' legs oscillate up and downin timed relation with the arm movements.

The general object of this invention is to provide a simple apparatus which will enable the swimmers arms and legs to be guided in synchronism to execute the movements necessary in producing this form of swimming stroke and also to provide the apparatus with means for resting the swimmers head and if desired for oscillating the same in synchronism with the arm movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with a breast support which may be used, if desired, for supporting the swimmers breast to facilitate the rocking of his body to simulate the natural motion of the body when using this form of swimming stroke.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction for the parts which will enable the degree of the leg movements to be regulated and to provide a construction which will enable the shin and foot of the swimmer to be moved in a desired relation.

further object of the invention is to provide a construction for the frame and supports for the parts which will enable the apparatus to be readily adapted to persons of different size. A further object of this invention is to provide sectional leg levers for supporting the students legs along their length and for oscillating them up and down simultaneously and oppositely in a plane perpendicular to the body rest in the flutter movement of this form oi stroke, the cycles of the oscillating movements of the leg levers to be at a predetermined ratio to the cycle of movements of the arm levers.

The apparatus includes arms corresponding to the arms of the swimmer and one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding these arms to execute the desired stroke and to construct the said arms in such a way that in the forward movement of the swimmers arm when out of the water, the arm of the apparatus tends to flex the arm of the swimmer.

A further object of the invention'is to. provide the arms of the apparatus with means tending to hold the swimmers hand in an extended and cupped position with the fingers together, assuming a position the swimmers hand should assume in executing this stroke.

A further object of the invention is to construct the leg supports in such a way that the joint of the swimmers knee may be brought into position so that it will substantially coincide with the axis of the joint connection between the thigh section of the leg support and the shin section.

Further objects ofthe invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efiicien mechanical swimming instructor.

A preferred embodiment of' the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is. a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section through .the middle portion of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 with certain parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus broken away and particularly illustrating an embodiment of the mechanism which is employed for oscillating the leg sections of the leg supports;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the head end of the apparatus or machine with certain parts broken away and others shown in section; this View particularly illustrates the preferred means for oscillating the swimmers head and also illustrates the guide cams for the arms of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken about on the line 66 of Figure 5 and further illustrating details of the arm guides and the arrangement of the cams for oscillating the swimmers head;

this view also illustrates the connection between the arms of the apparatus;

Figure '7 shows the details of a brake apparatus that may be used fordeveloping a resistance to the movement ofthe arms and leg supports of the apparatus; this view is a vertical section taken in a longitudinal plane adjacent the brake device, certain parts being broken away; 7 1

Figure 8 is a detailed side elevation with certain parts broken away and shown in section;' this view particularly illustrates a modified embodiment of the connecting rod for oscillating the leg sections of the leg supports;

Figure 9 is a perspective illustrating details of means which I employ for adapting the same apparatus to enable the head of the swimmer to be oscillated to the left or to the right to suit the special desires of the swimmer;

Figures 10 and 11 are details illustrating the preferred construction of the rotary member that oscillates the leg supports; Figure 10 shows a face View of the driving collar and Figure 11 shows a face view of a driven collar that carries the cam to which the cam roller on the connecting rod connects;

Figure 12 is a bottom plan of the foot end of the apparatus upon an enlarged scale, certain parts being broken away;

Figure 13 is a cross-section through the foot end of the apparatus taken about on the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a section taken about on the line l t-14 of Figure 12 and particularly illustrating details of an adjustment to enable the footboards of the apparatus to be extended;

Figure 15 is a section taken about on the line 15-15 of Figure 5 and particularly illustrating details of the construction of the head-rest and means for guiding the same to enable the swimmers head to be oscillated;

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken at the location of the line 1616 of Figure 1 and particularly illustrating the construction of a breast support which may be employed to support the swimmers breast near the neck, and which is constructed to facilitate the rocking movement of the swimmer which characterizes certain forms of this swimming stroke;

Figure 17 is a detail of one of the arms of the apparatus broken away and partially shown in section and also illustrating the hand hold or block which is used at the end of the arm to be held by the swimmers hand;

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the hand hold or block and showing a short portion of the outer extension of the arm of the apparatus; and

Figure 19 is a section on the line l919 of Figure 15, illustrating details of an adjustment that may be used in the construction of the head-rest.

The apparatus embodying this invention, as illustrated, includes a frame 1 having a substantially horizontal bar 2 supported on a foot leg or standard 3 and a head leg or standard 4. The middle portion 5 of the frame bar 2 is offset downwardly so as to accommodate the mechanism of the apparatus above the dropped portion. On the frame bar 1, near the extremities of the offset portion 5, two transverse frame bars 6 and 6 are provided, which assist in supporting the body rests and other parts of the apparatus. These parts include a breast board or body rest 7, which is supported in a horizontal position toward the head end of the device. On the under side of this body rest and at each side of it, two arms 8 are provided, which are mounted and guided on the swimming machine in such a way that they will operate as guides for guiding the arms of the swimmer to cause him to execute the desired swimming stroke, preferably the stroke known as the American crawl. In order to guide the arms in this way, I provide two guides 9 which are in the form of cams. These cams include portions or extensions 10 and 11 located angularly to each other. Each cam is provided with a continuous guide track 12 which passes around its edge, said track being in the form of a channel-shape runway, with projecting flanges 13.

In the angle formed between the planes of t e upper and lower portions of each cam, I provide an offset arm bracket 14. This arm bracket is supported for rotation in the angle between the two planes referred to, preferably in a bearing 20 and the outer portion of each bracket is offset laterally and carries a sleeve 15 to which the inner end of the corresponding arm 8 is secured. (See Fig. 6.) At the inner end of each sleeve 15 a roller 16 is provided, carrying a roller bearing 17 to reduce friction. This roller includes an outer ring 18 which is of a diameter to enable it to fit neatly in the space between the flanges 13. The inner end of each arm bracket is attached by a pivotal connection, for example, a knuckle joint 19, and the construction is such that the arm at one side of the machine is connected to the arm at the other side of the machine, so that the arms will move in synchronism with each other. The arms are oppositely placed so that when the arm at one side is being guided along the upper portion of its cam, the arm at the other side is being guided along the lower portion of the other cam. This will cause the arms to move in a manner corresponding to the American crawl stroke. In this connection, attention is called to the fact that the lower portions 10 of the cams incline inwardly and converge toward each other in a downward direction. This will cause the arm to move under the body in passing toward the rear in the working portion of the stroke.

By reason of the angular elevation of the upper portion 11 of the cam, the swimmers arm will be held in an elevated position as it passes forwardly. This corresponds to the forward movement of the swimmers arm out of the water in executing this stroke or crawl.

It should be understood that this apparatus provides mechanism for supporting the legs of the swimmer and for oscillating the same in synchronism with the arms. In order to accomplish this and at the same time connect the opposite arms 8 with each other, I provide a stub shaft 20 corresponding to each knuckle joint 19. This stub shaft carries a bevel gear 21 which meshes with a bevel gear 22 on a cross shaft 23. I utilize this shaft 23 to impart the other synchronized movements of the apparatus.

The foot end, 7 of the breast board '7 carries two oppositely disposed leg supports 24 (see Fig. 1), and each of these leg supports includes a thigh section 25 and a shin section 26. The thigh section is connected by a suitable pivot joint or hinge 27 with the lower edge of the breast board, and a hinge joint or knee joint 28 connects the upper end of the shin section with the lower end of the thigh section. The mechanism which connects the shaft 23 with each leg support 24 to operate it is constructed in such a way that the degree of movement imparted to the leg support can be nicely regulated.

In order to drive the leg supports. I provide the cross shaft 23 with bevel gears 29 (see Fig. 5), which drive a counter shaft 30. This shaft 30 extends toward the foot end of the machine and through the medium of bevel gears 81 drives a cross shaft 32. At each end of this cross shaft a rotary device is provided for imparting movement to a connecting rod 33 to actuate the thigh section 25. The rotary device is preferably in the form of a cam 34, mounted in such a way that the eccentricity of the cam can be readily regulated as desired. The means for accomplishing this is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. In order to do this, the end of the shaft 32 is provided ifOOlJCCZOSS .head .of the machine.

mesa-44s with :a collar 35, having a transverse under-cut slot-36 passing along the diameter of the collar. "Theinner side of the cam is provided :witn a corresponding dove-tail tongue 3'7 which :is i- =ceived in the under-cut .or dove-tail groove 36.

ifl hecam' 34 can .be securedin ranyladjusted' position by means of a set screw, not illustrated.

The end. of each connecting rod 33 is: provided with a roller-38 running inlthe groove of thecam.

"The" rear: end of each :connecting rod "33 #isat ta'che'd byan adjustable device tothe-thighsec- -tion-25. By reason of the iact that the cam-I 34 I is .-mounted so that its eccentricity Ican be -adjusted, it will be evident that the Iamount ot strokev imparted to theconne'cting rod 33 can bexregulated as desired. Furthermoreil prefer to construct the connection of the rod .33 .to

thethigh section so that itcanalsoibeadjusted. For this purpose, I provide the under :side of the thigh section'25 with a bracket 39 :which extends downwardly Y (see .2) and this :bracket isprovided witha longslot-t40,rin which the .end of theconnecting rod is attached. In order to :adjust the end of the connecting rod upwardly .and provide a stop against which it can rest, the lower -end of the bracket .is .pro- -.vided w.ith anadjustingsscrew 41, thetip of which presses against theiend of the connecting rod.

r-Ih end .of theconnecting rod may belprovided with a suitable .pivot pin 42, with a suitable clamping nut.

'To accomplisha correlated movement of the 'thighwand shin sections of the legrsupports, :I .provide a relatively fixedsupport 43afor'1theun- :der side of the leg section 26, near .the.knee

--joint "28. This support 43-is preferably ,in the form of a rollermounted-to rotate on a horizontal pin 44 extending from the .end of .a crosshead 45, which Imay be referred .to hereinafter as the In order to 1 cushion .the downward movement of the shin sec- ;tion 26, the foot-crosshead -45 is provided with la buiTer 46, in the form of a coil spring, which engages the under side of theshin sectionas it 'vswings downwardly.

ifdesired, the lower end of each shin section maybe provided witha foot board 4.7 .(seeiFig. -12), thelbody of which .is attached to the lower .endof theshin section .by means ofatongue .48 of dove-tail cross section, which fits in a dove- :tail groove 49 (see .Fig. :14). On the .under side .of the shinsection at thispointanmetal plate .50 is provided, which is provided with .twooppositely disposed slots 51 which .form the rear end of ithis platefio into a tongue 52. A cross bar 53 is provided at this tongue with a wing bolt 54 for -clamping the tongue (against the tongue .48 (see Fig. 14);. In this way, each :foot board 4=7 may be extended-beyond' the:end of the shin section as far as desired. Each footboard includes a wing portion 555 which is ;-connected by a-hinge joint 56 to-thebody ofthe footboard, :and this wing portion of the foot board is .nor-

mally supported in a substantially horizontal-pdsition by means of alight spring' 57 -in the rem of athin plate of sheetmetal, onee'nd of which :is riveted-to the under side' of the relativelyfixed part of the foot board. The action .of this foot board :in the swimming--movement Will';b :de-

scribed more in detail atanother .point.

The apparatus is provided with aheadrest for supporting the swimmers head andwith means if desired for oscillating the headof .the' ffswim- -mer to simulate the natural movementsof the head in swimming-with this. crawl stroke. .In

*latinglmovement, :I provide means in contactwith the head which .is automatically moved -by the mechariism soas to move the swimmers' head. In 'the present instance, this is accoml plished by-means ofa head rest"58' (see F-ig. 15), which is'in the form of acarriage guided to slide to'and fro on'a curvedguide or track 59.- carriagepr rest 58islprovided with lower rollers -60 'whichrcll in the slot'fil between the parallel zguide (see Fig. .1 5).

head is provided with, an adjusting scr'ew -72 :screwis secured :ina lug '76 onthe upper side of the main cross .head .(see :Fig; '3),

the. swimmer is underwater, :at which time the .air is expelled-through' the nose. If desired in orderto give the swimmers head this oscilbars 62 of the guide, and .it also includes-up- .pert'rollers 631whichrollon theupper sidelof the The upper portion of the rest is upholstered to provide :a comfortable support for the swimmers chin. T'hG GIIdSTOf the guide 59 are supported'on .posts v64:1'unning' ln adjusting slots 64 ,'.in which they are'secured by meansfof 'thumbnuts 65. The head rest -58ais adjustable vertically (see v19 'Any'suitable construction may be :used,ab'ut it (preferably "in- -cludes twocompression springs 58 supportedon the baserplate 58 of .the'rest'and let out; by :addusting screws58 two of which .are .located rat each end of the head rest. 1

In order toradjust the length of the ma'chine .to suit tallior short swimmers, the apparatusis constructed so that the board or .plate 375* that carries the joints 27 of the legsupports canzbe adjusted toward .or from the head end ;of".the machine. For this purpose, {the board 47. .is supported on a cross-head '67 .(see Fig. 3).. This cross-head is guided to slide onthe main namebar 2 and may be adjusted'by'means of ahand wheel .68'carried on the end -.of ,an adjusting :screw 69, the forward end of which is threaded and passes throughia threaded arm '70: extending down from the cross head. This 'cross aheadizfi'l 21 20 constitutes the main cross head 0f the machine.

ried in cross head .67 with two longitudinal;

tongues 6} and provide guide bracket'sfi on the board '7 to slide on the same,.with thumb-screws This L fi 'for clamping these partsin any extendedposition.

mounted to slide on a tongue 71, ,which is-pref- -erably-of square form to holdgthe footcross'head up i ht. Th end o th son u astene i the foot end of the-frame (see Fig.3) "I:'hiS cross passing through a lug {73 on -the cros s. head. Knurled nuts 74 and-"l5 are provided'for holding the adjusting screw 72in any position .jinwhich it is'lleft. .The 'forward end ofthe adjust ng The connecting rods 33 are preferably .con-

istructed of ,two telescoping tubesof different diameters, which .maYEbEZSBCUIBdfiH any adjusted The foot cross-head 45, already referred to, is

A detail of this construction is illustrated in Fig. 8, which view, however, shows a slightly modified construction for the bracket 77 which is attached to the under side of the thigh board.

If desired, the chin rest or head rest 58 can be employed without any means for oscillating it, in which case the swimmer would learn to move his head from the center to the side without any movement being imparted to the head rest. However, I prefer to impart movement to this head .rest, for which purpose I provide the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, including a rocker '78 which is supported on the under side of the breast board to rock on a vertical pivot '79. The under side of this rocker is provided with two pins 80 and 81, either one of which may be employed in imparting movement to the rocker, depending on whether the swimmer desired to turn his head toward the left or toward the right to breathe. In order to actuate the rocker, I provide two cams 82 and 83, corresponding to. the two pins 80 and As illustrated in Fig. 5, the cam 82 is connected by a slide bar 84 with the pin 80. This slide bar has a roller 85 at its rear end which rolls in the slot of the cam. Its forward end carries :a cross arm 86, with a fork receiving the pin 80.

On the other side of the longitudinal axis of the machine, a similar slide bar 87 is provided, but as illustrated this slide bar is not in use. The cross arm 86 is in the form of a bracket (see Fig. 9), and has an open socket 88 of channel form, which enables the slide bar 84 to be attached to it in the position shown in Fig. 5. If desired, the bracket arm 86 may be removed from this slide bar 84 and attached to the other slide bar 87 in a reversed position, so as to enable its fork to engage the pin 81 instead of the pin 80. This would give the rocker '78 an opposite movement at the same moment in the cycle of the machine, because the cams 82 and 83 are oppositely placed on the shaft 23.

Any suitable connection may be employed between the rocker '78 and the head rest 58. For

this purpose, however, I prefer to employ a tongue 89 which extends forwardly from the side of the rocker 78. This tongue swings from a central position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 toward the right or the left, according to which one of the cams 82 and 83 is driving it. This tongue is straddled by a fork 90 on the lower end of a swivel pin 91, which is swiveled in the under side of the head rest 58 (see Fig. 16).

Each of the arms 8 is preferably constructed with an inner extension 92 and an outer extension 93 (see Fig. 18). If desired, the inner extension 92 may be made of two telescoping tubes 92 and 92 the former of which is split and provided with a clamping nut 94 to clamp the end of the other section 92*.

The outer extension 93 preferably forms a swivel joint at 95 and 95 with the outer end of the section 92 with which it-telescopes, and at its outer end carries pivotally a hand hold 95, preferably in the form of a block 9'7, having a convex upper face 98 upon which the palm of the swimmers hand rests. This causes the swimmer to hold his hand in cup shape in swimming on the machine.

The face 98 includes an abrupt rear face 98 to receive the palm of the hand and an inclined face 98 that holds the fingers of the hand extended at an angle to the palm. This hand hold is connected by a pivot pin 99 with the block, so as to enable the block to be swung on the swimmers hand and stops 99 are provided to engage the head of the extension 93 and limit the movement of the block. The axis of the pin 99 should coincide substantially with the position of the hand when resting on the block. A strap, or

. band, 100, is employed passing over the outer face.

of the fingers to hold them together while resting on the block.

Each arm is provided with a spring 95 which thrusts against a collar 95 attached to the inner end of a stem 93 which is secured in the inner 1 end of the extension 93. This spring thrusts against a fixed collar 95 mounted in the extension 92. This spring exerts its force in a direction to pull the extension 93 inwardly and shorten the arm 8. This is a desirable elfect because it tends to have the swimmer bend his elbow in the forward movement of the stroke when the arm is supposed to be passing forwardly out of the water.

If desired, I may provide a rocking support for the breast of the swimmer", located at the upper end of the breast board. Such a rocking support is illustrated in Fig. 16. It consists of a saddle plate 101 mounted to rest on the upper side of the breast board '7, and provided on its upper side with a rocker plate 102, mounted to rock on a pivot pin 103 extending along the longitudinal axis of the machine. This rocker is slightly dished on its upper side, and under each edge a coiled buffer spring 104 is provided. The breast board '7 is surmounted by a properly upholstered main pad 105 (see Fig. 1) the lower end of which is bifurcated and formed with tongues 106, which taper down in thickness toward their foot edge 10"]. This pad 105 is not secured in place but merely rests on the breast board '7. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the rocker breast board 102 is shown in place with the upper end of the breast pad 105 lying substantially against the edge of the saddle plate 101. If desired, however, the saddle plate 101 can be removed and the breast pad 105 slipped up toward the upper end of the machine so as to cover the space left vacant by the breast rocker.

In order to prevent destructive wear on the under sides of the shin extensions 26, their under sides are provided with metal brackets 108, which are adjustable longitudinally on the shin extensions and may be secured in any adjusted position by a set screw 109.

In order to enable the axis of the knee joint of the. swimmer to coincide nearly with the axis of the hinge joints 28 that connect the shin sections with the thigh sections 25, I provide the thigh sections and the adjacent portions of the shin sections with knee openings (see Fig. 1) These openings extend a considerable distance toward the upper end of the leg support, and receive the knee end of the thigh bone of the swimmer. In this connection, it should be understood that the upper faces of the thigh section and shin section of the leg supports are properly padded, as also is the upper side of the foot boards. 7

The ends of the foot boards preferably converge toward each other (see Fig. 1), to correspond with the pigeon-toed position for the feet of the swimmer.

If desired, the machine may be constructed so that a resistance will be offered to the movements of the swimmer. For this purpose, any of the shafts of the machine may be provided with a brake wheel and adjustable brake. In the present instance, a brake wheel lll is provided on the shaft 30 (see Fig. 4). Above this brake ease-44s" wheels brake lever 1 12' s r vided, on'end of which is pivoted." at 113 ontheunaers qe r the breast board. A coil spring 1I4 is attached to the free end of this brake'ror' pulling it down uponthe Wheel. Springs of different force" may be employed, if desired, so as'to regulate the resistance; 7

l'shall now describe the general mode of 05- eration of the machine. 'rhe swimmer lies extended on the apparatus, face downwarmy, aii'df w'ith his' knees thrust throughv the openings 1T0 His arms should extend oyer the arms 8 of the apparatus, and his hands should rest on the blocks 96 in an extended and'cupped form with the fingersheld' together by means orthe straps I001 The chin of the swimmer should be sup ported on the pador head rest 58'. rhe swim: mer should then use his muscles to wing" the arms of the machine in' a rear direction. These arms 8" guide the swimmers arms under his body in the working part of the stroke, and through the operation of the cams 9, they guide the 'swimmers arm outwardly and forwardly the forward or return movement of the stroke.

The movements of the arms 8 are"imparted' through the shaft 23 and the shaft 30 to the cross shaft 32 toward the'foot end of the machine; and from this shaft the connecting rods 33' are driven to' oscillate the leg supports 24'in' the fiuttermovement; v I

Assuming that the swimmer breathes on the leftside in swimming with this stroke; as the right'arm passes toward the rear in the'wor'king movement the swimmers head would oscillate over" to the left, so as to raise his mouth to a higher level. This movement can be a'cco n: plished by the swimmer himself by simply pressing liischin against the rest 58"and twist: ing' his head toward the left. If the automatic drive for the fest 58 is being employed, therest will be moved by the tongue 89' carried by the rocker 78, which isin" turn actuated by the cam 82 off of the cross shaft 23.

The head rest 58 may be adjusted in the slots 64 so as to adapt it' to the swimmer using the" apparatus. I v V In operating the machine, the swimmers legs oscillate" up and down simultaneously and oppositely 'in'a plane perpendcular to thebody rest. Thus, by means of the mechanical syii'-' to acquire a natural coordination of the move-- ments of' the" head and legs with uie mdvesrems of the arms inthis form of swimming stroke;

The oscillation of the students head from a central position to that of either side, may he performed with or without mechanical impulse; What I claim is: 7 1.111 a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, a cam mounted on one side of the frame and anothercaminounted' on the other side of the framefeach'of said cams having a continuous path with an upperportion disposed in one plane and a lower portion disposed in a plane extending at an angle toi th'e' plane of the upper portion, an ofiset arm-bracket supportedthe angle between the said" planes a'ridhai inga pivotal joint, means 'forcoiinec'tmg the pivotal joints so thatthe "arm -b'raclieton' one side of the frame'moves'in 'synchroiii'sm'witlii the" arm-bracketon the other side; an arm can ried by each bracket for supportiii'gthe' oit li" ah'd means for guiding each armbralilit ea ns corresponding cam, said arm brackets being disposed so that when the guiding means of one ramming on the upper p61" ti'oh' of ori tiamjtfi g'ui'diiig' means of the other is running on" the lower portion of th' other oaih. I

2 In a' mechanical sivlfii'nm'i'n'g instructor, the: combination of afijain', a eam'moufite'd'on'one side 6f the frame andar'iother cam mounted on the other s de'of the' frame, each of said cairis hating continuous path with an upper p5- f r'i'eans for connecting the pivotal'joints so the"arm+bjracket ofijofi'side o f'the name in illi syn-ornament with the armebra'ckfi on ot'li'er'side, an: arm'oarried by each amtb'mckec for supporting the arm of the swimmer, and a roller carriedfby each" guide bracket and riiIrning irf the rimway'betweeii the said flanges, said, am: brackets being disposes so" thatwheii the roller correspo ding to one" arm is running 0Y1 tiieupper portion of one mm, the roller of the other arm is' running on the lower portion of the other cam. V

Inai' mechanical swimming instructor, the combiri ion of a frame; a} cam' niounted on oiie side of thefrahie and"anothr cam mountea'on the other side" of the frame," each of said cams a cqhti nubiiis' path with an uiiper Dortio1i"di'sp6sed in one plane and alo vv er portion d sposed plan xteh dihg' at an angle to the plane" ofthe upperiportion; amigos-eta bracket with a bearingsuppbrted in theangl'e' be tvlieeii the'said planesj-and' hayinga piyotal joint; means for connecting the piyotaljoints sothat the" arm-'braeeeteaofie side of the frame moyes in synchro sniwith the arm -b'ra'cket on'the other H5 side; an moi carried each" arm bracketfor supp'ortnir" he arr i' of Swimmer, anafrour' asks tantrums; 'ide'the said-arms, said arrn' bracliets beingdisposed so that when the roller means" corresponding to one arm is riiiilniiigo ii 't'he upper portion of one cam; the roller means corresponding to the other arm is" ruriniiig' oii thel'o tter'p'ortion of" theother cam.

4. In" a meantime: instr'uct'or the combination of a frame; arriis at the sides of the framejni iis fo'r giii ihg thesaid arms to cause the'm to ex cute a swimming stroke, arid niea s" for oscillating the swim' r headiiri' synchro Iiisrii-Withth"moveiiferit ofth said arms. v A

m a iiiechariical swiirimir'ig instructor, the, combination of" a" frame" having meaii's for porting the swimmers bodyin asubstantially horizoiita positioii; an ar'rn meuhted ateach side of the frarfie} means conii'ecting thej arms yih iii) ohronize the movements thereof, means for guiding each arm to move in a continuous path rear- Wardly in one plane and forwardly in another plane, a leg support at each side of the frame having a thigh-section and a shin-section with a joint connecting the same, means connecting the leg supports with the said arms to move the leg supports in synchronism with the arms, means for supporting the shin-sections at a point beyond their joint connections with the thigh-section, and operating to effect a correlated movement of the thigh and shin sections, when oscillating up and down.

7. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame having means for supporting the swimmers body in a substantially horizontal position, a leg support at each side of the frame having a thigh-section with a joint supporting the same on the frame and having a shin-section with a knee-joint connecting the same with the free end of the thigh-section, a foot-board having a joint connecting the same with the free end of the shin-section, the footboard at each side being constructed so as to converge toward the foot-board on the other side, an arm mounted at each side of the frame and means for actuating the leg support in synchronism with the arms.

8. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, an arm supported at each side of the frame, means for connecting the arms to move the same in synchronism, means for guiding the arms to move in a continuous path rearwardly in one plane and forwardly in another plane, and a breast support pivotally supported substantially in line with the longitudinal central axis of the frame to enable the breast support to rock to and fro in synchronism with the arm movements.

9. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, a leg support having a thigh-section with a joint connecting the same to the frame and having a shin-section with a knee-joint connecting the same with the free end of the thigh-section, a foot section having a joint connection with the lower end of the shinsection, and a spring yieldingly supporting the foot section and operating to permit the free end of the foot section to be yieldingly depressed.

10. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, an arm supportedat each side of the frame, means for guiding the arm to cause the swimmer to execute a swimming stroke, and a block pivotally supported on the end of the arm having the form of the inner curvature of an extended and cupped hand to receive the swimmers hand and operating to hold the hand in an extended and cupped position.

11. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, an arm supported at each side of the frame, means for guiding the arm to cause the swimmer to execute a swimming stroke, a block carried on the end of the arm to receive the swimmers hand and operating to hold the hand in an extended and cupped form, and means passing across above the face of the block and over the swimmers hand to hold the fingers together.

12. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, an arm supported at each side of the frame, means for guiding the arm to cause the swimmer to execute a swimming stroke, a block carried on the end of the arm to receive the swimmers hand and operating to hold the hand in a substantially curved form, and a spring associated with the arm tending to pull the block inwardly on the arm.

13. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, an arm supported on the frame, means for guiding the arm on the frame to cause the swimmer to execute a swimming stroke, said arm having an inner extension and having an extensible outer extension with a swivel connection to the inner extension, and a hand-rest pivotally attached to the outer exten- $1011.

14. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame, arms at the sides of the frame, means for guiding the said arms to move in a continuous path forwardly in one plane and rearwardly in another plane, means for oscillating the swimmers head in synchronism with the,

movement of the arms, leg supports for the swimmers legs, and means for actuating the same in synchronism with the said arms.

15. A cam having a continuous path with an extension lying in one plane and another extension lying in another plane making an angle with the first named plane, said cam having guide flanges extending along the edge thereof and cooperating to form a guide channel.

16. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a frame having a breast board for supporting the swimmers breast and consisting of a relatively fixed section supported on the frame, and a relatively movable section, with means for adjusting the same longitudinally of the frame, said sections having means for bridging the gap formed by adjusting the movable section.

17. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the

combination of a frame having means for sup--. porting the swimmers body in a substantially horizontal position, a leg support at each side of the frame having a thigh-section with a joint supporting the same on the frame and having a shin-section with a knee-joint connecting the same with the free end of the thigh-section, said sections at said joint having an opening to receive the knee of the swimmer and means operating to effect a correlated movement of the shin and thigh sections when oscillating up and down.

18. In a mechanical swimming instructor, the combination of a cam having a continuous guide path with portions extending in planes angularly to each other, said cam having guide flanges extending along the edge thereof and cooperating to form a guide channel, a shaft axially extending between said planes and a lever pivotally connected with the shaft and engaging the cam on an axis extending from the center of the shaft.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a body rest supported by the frame, an arm lever mounted at each side of the rest, means for guiding each arm lever to move in a continuous path in planes angularly to each other, a head rest, and means for guiding the head rest to move to the side in synchronism with the movements of the arm levers.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a body rest having a fixed section forwardly on the frame and a movable section adjustable longitudinally on the frame toward and away from the fixed section, leg supports connected to the movable section and operating to oscillate simultaneously and oppositely in a plane perpendicular to the movable section.

' CHARLES W. KABISIUS. 

